Birtley Leisure Centre Table Tennis A team have retained the Premier Division of the Wenade (UK) Northumbria Table Tennis League by a slender margin from St Gabriel's.

Birtley Leisure Centre Table Tennis A team have retained the Premier Division of the Wenade (UK) Northumbria Table Tennis League by a slender margin from St Gabriel's.

The Birtley team was made up of Dave Godbold, Eddy Smith and Gary Sangster. Godbold lost only one game all season, Smith two and Sangster five.

The A team have won the premier title three times and the C team gained promotion to the premier division in 1999. They achieved a comfortable mid-table position to ensure Birtley still have two teams competing in the highest division.

Birtley provide excellent facilities, with three top quality tables in a large hall complete with surrounds. This allows all teams to play at home on the same evening, creating an exciting atmosphere. Refreshments and shower facilities are also available.

The club can boast a variety of top class players. Smith is currently England ranked No 20, Godbold is an ex-county champion and ranked 63, while Geoff Salter - at an age when players usually hang up their bat - has represented Scotland in the Home International Over-40s.

Sangster, a new member of the squad, had an excellent debut season, with an 85 per cent average, while Chris Thorpe and Paul Swinborne complete the A team squad.

The B squad consists of John Rowell, Eddy Kennedy, Gary Armstrong and lan Fothergill. It had a great run last season in the handicap cup, mainly due to youngster Armstrong playing at a level well above his normal standard.

The C team consists of ex-Northumberland junior No 1 Alan Mathewson, Derek Williamson and, returning to play after a gap of 10 years, ex-junior county player Steve Waugh. * A brace apiece from Maurice Cheek, Tony Martin and Peter Stempczyk eased Blaydon YC A's relegation fears with a 6-4 win over Newton A. Craig Fryer got two for the losers.

In Division One, Hebburn CC shocked Birtley with an 8-2 victory thanks to three from Alan Livingstone, two each from Bill Housego and Tony Brabbs and the doubles.

A brace apiece from Alan Atkinson and Ken Clark was not enough to save Philips Components from going down 4-6 in Division Two against Newton C, for whom Jim Hunter was unbeaten.

Dunston A's team of Bob Wood (3), Eric Watson (2), Graham Kellett (2) plus the doubles got an 8-2 win in Division Three at Byker CC B who could manage only two from Bill Ellison.

m There were two exciting semi-finals in the Sunderland & District Table Tennis Association Team Handicap.

Silksworth Comrades lost 3-6 to Silksworth CC A, who had to give starts of between six and 15 in games up to 21 points (best of three).

Out of the 22 games that were played to complete the match, 12 finished with a net difference of two to three points.

Bob Reed, Colin Hunt and Bernie Morris each won two sets for Silksworth CC A and George McClurkin won two and Kaye Dixon one for Silksworth Comrades.

Geoff Eltringham also played very well and was unfortunate not to win a set, as three of the six games he lost were by the minimum two points.

The second semi saw Silksworth CC B beat Seaburn Dene NC 5-4. Neil Herrington won all three and David Robson two for Silksworth CC B, whilst Norman Polley won two plus one each for Allan Thompson and Linda Spensley for Seaburn Dene.

The Individual and Team Handicap finals will be played at Silksworth Community Centre.

The final of the Team Handicap is tomorrow, starting at 7pm, between the Silksworth CC A and B teams. * Silksworth CC C moved nearer to second spot in Division 1 with a 9-1 victory over Southern Stewart and Walker.

Tony Gelder and John Williamson were undefeated and Southern only saved a whitewash when Michael Grimes beat Lynne Herrington 21-16 21-18.

Boldon CA beat a depleted Silksworth CC A side 6-4 to complete their fixtures having only dropped 11 league points.

St John TTC A, with an 8-2 victory over Seaburn Dene NC, have moved off the bottom. Seaburn Dene had their leading player Allan Thompson injured and unable to play his three sets, and they have finished in bottom position.

Ryhope IM's 8-2 win over St Gabriels C moved them nearer to the Division Two title. Brian Bateman and Alan Bickle each won three sets.

Results of the Sunderland & District Closed Championships at the Seaburn Centre on Sunday were: